Exam Bulletin - Office Technician (General)

State of California

Exam Code: EX-2010

Examination Plans Included:

  • OFFICE TECHNICIAN (GENERAL) - Open, Non-Promotional

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

OFFICE TECHNICIAN (GENERAL): $3,543.00 - $4,440.00 per Month

View the OFFICE TECHNICIAN (GENERAL) classification specification.

Application Instructions

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • OFFICE TECHNICIAN (GENERAL) - Open, Non-Promotional

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2010

For OFFICE TECHNICIAN (GENERAL), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02010

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00101138 - OFFICE TECHNICIAN (GENERAL)

Either 1

One year of experience in California state service performing clerical duties at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of an Office Assistant, Range B.

Or 2

Experience: Two years of clerical experience. [Academic education above the twelfth grade may be substituted for one year of the required general experience on the basis of either (a) one year of general education being equivalent to three months of experience; or (b) one year of education of a business or commercial nature being equivalent to six months of experience. Students who are enrolled in the last semester or its equivalent of course work which upon completion will fulfill these requirements will be admitted to the examination, but they must submit evidence of completion before they can be considered for appointment.]

Position Description

00101138 - OFFICE TECHNICIAN (GENERAL)

This is the advanced journey level which regularly performs a variety of the most difficult duties and is expected to consistently exercise a high degree of initiative, independence and originality in performing assigned tasks. Positions at this level regularly require detailed and sensitive public contact and/or independent origination of correspondence involving the knowledge and application of detailed regulations, policies and procedures (e.g., positions such as secretaries to major division chiefs and one-person field office assignments comprised of a wide variety of responsibilities). Good judgment and the ability to communicate effectively is of primary importance at this level. Typically, the work at this level is rarely reviewed. In addition, positions may have responsibility for functional guidance in training and assisting less experienced employees.

Special Personal Characteristic

A demonstrated interest in assuming increasing responsibility.

Additional Desirable Qualification

Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

Note: This is a 90-minute timed examination. There is no way to pause, stop, or reset the timer once you start. A stable internet connection is recommended as no additional time will be provided for internet loss, power loss, or computer/browser issues. If you are unable to complete the timed examination, it is recommended you do not continue until you are able to do so.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

The online multiple choice examination is comprised of three sections:
  1. Arithmetic Calculations
  2. Written Communication
  3. Reading Comprehension
A study guide is available for your reference. View the Office Technician study guide

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Modern office methods, supplies and equipment
  2. Business English and correspondence
  3. Principles of effective training
Ability to:
  1. Perform difficult clerical work, including ability to spell correctly
  2. Use good English
  3. Make arithmetical computations
  4. Operate various office machines
  5. Follow oral and written directions
  6. Evaluate situations accurately and take effective action
  7. Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance
  8. Make clear and comprehensive reports and keep difficult records
  9. Meet and deal tactfully with the public
  10. Apply specific laws, rules and office policies and procedures
  11. Prepare correspondence independently utilizing a wide knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and spelling
  12. Communicate effectively
  13. Provide functional guidance

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the OFFICE TECHNICIAN (GENERAL) Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits will only be added to the final score of those applicants who are successful in examination(s) administered on an Open, Non-Promotional basis in accordance with Government Codes 18951 and 18951.5.

Testing Departments

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)